Watertight watchcase

ABSTRACT

A watertight watchcase having a watertight first elastic ring seal without adhesive between a watch crystal and a watch crystal ring circumferentially of the ring seal and watch crystal. The watch crystal ring is provided with two flange surfaces remote from the first ring seal and lying in two planes normal to each other. A second elastic ring seal is received against these two surfaces and compressed thereagainst by a circumferential shoulder on a watchcase band effecting a second watertight seal without adhesive between the watch crystal ring and the watchcase band. A bezel is applied against the watch crystal ring circumferentially thereof compensating for the restoration forces of the elastic ring seals.

United States Patent [191 Isono Aug. 27, 1974 WATERTIGHT WATCHCASE Primary Examiner-George H. Miller, Jr.

Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert E. Burns; [75] Inventor. Sh0 lsono, Tokyo, Japan Emmanuel J. Lobato; Bruce L. Adams [73] Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daini Seikosha,

Tokyo, Japan [57] ABSTRACT [22] Filed: Dec. 5, 1973 A watertight watchcase having a watertight first elastlc [21] Appl- Nod 421,853 ring seal without adhesive between a watch crystal and a watch crystal ring circumferentially of the ring seal 30 Foreign Application priority Data and watch crystal. The watchcrystal ring is provided Dec 8 1972 Japah 474 40386 with two flange surfaces remote from the first ring seal and lying in two planes normal to each other. A see- [52 us. (:1 58/90 R 0nd filastic ring is received against these two [51] Int. Cl. G04b 37/08 fgces and compressed thereagainst by a Fircumferen' [58] Field of Search 58/90 R 91 tral shoulder on a watchcase band effecting a second watertight seal without adhesive between the watch 56] References Cited crystal ring and the watchcase band. A bezel is applied a amst the watch or stal rm clrcumferentlall thereof UNITED STATES PATENTS c mpensating for th e restoiition forces of dye elastic 2,467,062 4/]949 Vermot 58/90 R ring eals. 3.789,606 2/1974 lsono 58/90 R 6 Claims, 3- Drawing Figures PATENTED AUG 2 7 I914 PRIOR ART WATERTIGHT WATCHCASE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to watches and more particularly to a new improved watertight watchcase seal arrangement free of adhesives.

Watertight watchcases free of adhesive in effecting watertight seals are known. The known watchcases, however, have uncompensated restoration forces of the various ring seals that tend to destroy the fluidtightness.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a principal objectof the present invention to provide a fluidtight watchcase free of adhesives in effecting the various seals therein.

Another object is to provide a fluidtight watchcase construction in which the restoration forces of deformable seals are compensated and the assembly stabilized to maintain the fluidtightness.

A watertight watchcase according to the invention comprises a watch crystal having a fluidtight seal between it and a watch crystal ring circumferentially thereof. A first deformable, highly elastic ring effects the seal therebetween. A bezel is disposed circumferentially of the watch crystal ring and resists the restoration force of the deformable seal.

The watch crystal ring is provided with two flange surfaces remote from-the first elastic ring which lie in two planes normal to each other. A second deformable, highly elastic ring or seal is disposed on these surfaces and pressed against them toeffect a fluidtight seal free of adhesives by a circumferential shoulder of a watchcase band.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description of an example of the invention, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims and drawings in which;

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary cross section view of a prior art watchcase which is fluidtight without the use of adhesives;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary cross section view of a fluidtight watchcase according to the invention; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary cross section view of a fluidtight watchcase according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A known fluidtight watchcase construction is illustrated in FIG. 1. The watchcase has a watchcase band A circumferentially of a circumferential flange on a watch crystal ring B which has a shouldercircumferentially of a watch crystal C. A pair of elastic, plastic ring seals or gaskets D and D are disposed between the watch crystal ring and the watchcase band and watch crystal as shown. These gaskets are deformable'and are compressed to effect fluidtight seals without use of adhesives, between the corresponding elements associated therewith.

The deformable rings D and D develop restoration forces F and F which are illustrated by arrowslabelled according to the forces. The restoration forces are in opposite directions and tend to break the seals since a tendency to rotate the watch crystal ring B is developed that tends to separate the members and disrupt the fluidtightness.

A first embodiment of a watertight watchcase according to the invention is illustrated in FIG. 2. As illustrated a watch crystal 1 has a watch crystal ring 2 provided with a circumferential flange 2a defining an annular space 3 jointly with the periphery of the watch crystal 1 in which is disposed a T-shaped highly resilient ring or gasket 4 made of a deformable material, for example synthetic rubber. The gasket 4 provides a fluidtight seal without adhesive between the watch crystal and the watch crystal ring. The watch crystal ring 2 is provided with a second annular flange 2b having a surface in a plane substantially normal to a surface of the body of the watch crystal ring 2 as illustrated. The watchcase has a watchband 5 defining an annular space 6 with a circumferential shoulder thereof and the two flange surfaces of the watch crystal ring 2. A second deformable ring or gasket 7 is disposed within this annular space 6 as illustrated with the shoulder of the watchcase band applying the seal or gasket 7 against the two normal flange surfaces as illustrated and compressing it to provide a second seal without adhesive. This second gasket is highly resilient and has a rectangular configuration. In order to compensate for the restoration forces of the elastic gaskets, a bezel 8 is disposed circumferentially of the flange 2a of the watch crystal ring 2 as illustrated.

The watchcase is provided with a back cover 9 fitting into an annular shoulder of the watchcase band and defining a space therewith within which is received a third deformable watertight gasket or seal 10. The watchcase is provided with a time-setting knob stem as illustrated extending into the watchcase within which watchworks 11 are housed.

A second embodiment of a watertight watchcase embodying the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3. In this embodiment the elements corresponding to those in the first embodiment in FIG. 2 are primed. Thus, a watch crystal 1 has a watch crystal ring 2 having a flange 2a defining a space circumferentially of the watch crystal 1 in which a highly resilient gasket 4' of rectangular cross section is disposed. A watchcase band 5 is provided with a shoulder circumferentially of two flange surfaces, normal to each other, provided by a second flange 2b of the watch crystal ring 2 defining a space 6 therewith in which is disposed an L-shaped gasket 7' compressed therebetween. The two seals and gaskets provide fluid tight seals with the corresponding elements without use of adhesive in the manner of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2.

In this embodiment a bezel 8' is likewise provided and applies pressure against the flange 2a on the watchcase band and compensates for the restoration forces of the 2 gaskets 4, 7 hereby tending to maintain the assembled and watertight relationship of the elements as before described.

The various gaskets in the watchcases are made of a suitable deformable material such as synthetic rubber or a suitable plastic. The material is highly resilient and has a memory tending to restore the deformed gaskets.

What [claim and desire to secure by letters patent l. A watertight watchcase comprising, a watch crystal, a first deformable highly elastic ring circumferentially of the periphery of said watch crystal, a watch crystal ring circumferentially of said first elastic ring and compressing said first elastic ring against said watch crystal to effect a fluidtight seal free of adhesive between the watch crystal and said watch crystal ring, a bezel circumferentially of said watch crystal ring, said watch crystal ring having circumferential flange surfaces substantially in planes normal to each other and remote fromvsaid first elastic ring, a second deformable highly elastic ring abutting one of said flange surfaces and overlying the other, and a watchcase band having a circumferential shoulder in which said second highly elastic ring is received and compressed against said shoulder and flange surfaces thereby effecting a fluidtight seal between the watch crystal ring and the watchcase band free of adhesive.

2. A watertight watchcase according to claim 1, in which said first elastic ring has an L-shaped cross section.

3. A watertight watchcase according to claim 2,.in which said second elastic ring has a rectangular cross section.

4. A watertight watchcase according to claim 3, in which said first elastic ring and said second elastic ring each are made of synthetic rubber.

5. A watertight watchcase according to claim 1, in which said first elastic ring has a rectangular cross sectron.

6. A watertight watchcase according to claim 5, in which said second elastic ring has an L-shaped cross section. 

1. A watertight watchcase comprising, a watch crystal, a first deformable highly elastic ring circumferentially of the periphery of said watch crystal, a watch crystal ring circumferentially of said first elastic ring and compressing said first elastic ring against said watch crystal to effect a fluidtight seal free of adhesive between the watch crystal and said watch crystal ring, a bezel circumferentially of said watch crystal ring, said watch crystal ring having circumferential flange surfaces suBstantially in planes normal to each other and remote from said first elastic ring, a second deformable highly elastic ring abutting one of said flange surfaces and overlying the other, and a watchcase band having a circumferential shoulder in which said second highly elastic ring is received and compressed against said shoulder and flange surfaces thereby effecting a fluidtight seal between the watch crystal ring and the watchcase band free of adhesive.
 2. A watertight watchcase according to claim 1, in which said first elastic ring has an L-shaped cross section.
 3. A watertight watchcase according to claim 2, in which said second elastic ring has a rectangular cross section.
 4. A watertight watchcase according to claim 3, in which said first elastic ring and said second elastic ring each are made of synthetic rubber.
 5. A watertight watchcase according to claim 1, in which said first elastic ring has a rectangular cross section.
 6. A watertight watchcase according to claim 5, in which said second elastic ring has an L-shaped cross section. 